Tuktu- 10- The Caribou Hunt (Inuit traditional hunting techniques)

I want to tell you a story of the old days when people were different from now some Eskimos hunted the caribou with arrows we hunted with Spears and killed them at the crossing place in our kayaks we paddled fast to catch him the eyes of the hunter were keen the news traveled quickly when the caribou had been seen then the hunt would begin soon the kayaks were floating and quickly the hunters paddled across the lake to meet the caribou my father told me that caribou were not plentiful in our part of the country only a small number came to us each season crossing the rivers and lakes as they journeyed in search of food the caribou has always been a great friend to the Eskimos to honor him my father made a song and when I grew old enough to understand he gave the song to me let my breath blow a song of the animals I have caught let my song praise the caribou as I paddle my kayak at the crossing place there is joy in feeling the Sun when it comes once more to the great world there is thankfulness when the caribou follows its ancient way there is gladness in feeling the swift water of the lake as we hunt the caribou at the crossing place my father told me about the times of great wants when the caribou did not follow its ancient way but he told me also of the good times when the caribou felt heavy on his back he said then we had delicious meats and his skid made us clothing attempts his bones were used for sewing needles and for many other valuable things [Music] the seasons change and the wind grows colder the snows come and the ice grows thick on lake and see my father told me then about his sled and how he mended the runners with bones from the caribou as he worked mending his sled I remember how my father told me stories my father was a great storyteller once she told me about the bones of a caribou and what happened to a hunter of long long ago one day said my father a hunter found a caribou at the crossing place kill me with your spear said the caribou it is your right to kill me because you are hungry and must fill your belly take my skin and use it to make a fine tent only one thing I ask of you keep my bones beside the crossing place so that my spirit may pass over the water and join my friends in the afterworld do not split my bones or scatter them then may your spear always be fortunate [Music] the world is full of sadness said hunter and to bring you joy at least I will do as you ask your bones I will leave at the crossing race may your spirit always be thankful then he killed the caribou and took the meat home to his family the meat filled their bellies and the skin made a fine tempt but his sled needed mending and his wife grumbled that she needed sewing needles what you say is undoubtedly true said the hunter but I made a promise and the bones of the caribou must be left at the crossing place or his spirit will be angry but his wife had a bad temper and spoke in a harsh voice in the end the hunter grew tired of her talking and agreed to use the bone of the caribou he made fishhooks sewing needles and knife handles he split the bone and used it for sled runners and made the sled strong with caribou horn but alas from that time forward the hunter had no luck with his spear his fish hooks caught no fish when his wife used the needles her sewing was bad and the runners of his sled wore away quickly the hunter became very poor in the end they journeyed to a far away place and no one ever heard of them again said my father you must never anger the spirits of the dead I blew a song to the caribou I honor his spirit therefore his bones are the bones of a friend and my sled will travel smooth and quick the caribou was not angry nor will his spirit turn aside my spear [Music] now I will show you how we split the skin of animals said my father I will show you how to make lines or thongs for tying there he showed me this and his hand was steady and sure [Music] my father told many stories of the hunt he praised the caribou and made many songs and poems he said we must always do honor to those who help us and bring us gifts the caribou will give you his coat the skin is strong and warm when the sled needs mending when I needed strong sinews when my children needed boots when I needed a tent or meat to relieve my hunger then I asked my friend and came to him [Music] in my ears the wind is singing I hear the song of a distant places in my ears the dogs are barking our sled will carry us far away I hear a song from a distant land I must load the sled and be gone from here I will load the sled with a hungry child my sled will carry us far away [Music] that fall when the mist came down from the hills we made camp near the crossing place my father and my uncle made the circle of stones and put up tents when I went to sleep I remember dreaming of many caribou at sunrise my mother shook me she said get up tuck - today's the day of the hunt you must be dressed and ready to go with your father to the crossing place wake up wake up [Music] the man won't let me hunt said I you must watch and learn said my mother you are too young to throw spear but not too young to learn come you must shake the sleep out of your eyes your father is waiting so I went to meet my father and my heart was glad I found him his sharp eyes looking all about together we went down to the crossing place in the quietness of the early morning my father told me something of the mysteries of the caribou of their comings and goings and how scarce they were in our part of the country he told me about the great herds to the south at how the noise of their hoofs was like thunder I have seen these things said my father and one day you will see them too [Music] then we came to the Crossing place and found the camp of my uncle excitement was big in my throat as I looked towards the other side I cried there is a caribou tucked to his right said my father and he has the eyes of a great hunter come there is no time to lose hunters hurry down to the shore and place their kayaks in the water as I stood there watching my desire was great to be with him I watched the Swift kayak of my father until it was far out in the lake back and forth he pedaled as he chased the caribou desperately the animal tried to evade my father's spear and make for the far shore this can be a time of danger for the hunter sometimes a caribou will suddenly turn on the kayak and rip the covering with his sharp antlers if this should happen the kayak will sink and the hunter will drown in the icy water of the bay when my father returned he told me about the hunt I am ashamed tattoo he said today I was clumsy the spear fell from my hand and the caribou was quick to leave me this was the first animal to cross the lake and I believe he was meant for another hunter I blew a song in praise of the caribou but perhaps his spirit did not hear [Music] but the spirit did hear the voice of my father on the following day I met him when he came back from the hunt I knew his arm had been strong and good luck had come to his spear to talk to he shouted I have killed a fine Beast the spirits heard my song and were pleased soon we shall smell the cooking and taste the meat of the caribou and it was so wish that the souls of the animals I have killed would help me to send my heavy thoughts to a distance wished at the memory of all my great hunts I'd lift me out of the weakness of old age [Music] airware pots on the fire when the hunting was over I sat with my friends and enjoyed the feast I remember the fire and the smell of the cooking and my breath blew a song at the Crossing place there were stories to tell when the hunting was finished and these are the stories of days long ago and that is the way we used to live [Music]

Channel: Alaska Extreme

Views: 1,109,410

Rating: 4.6966348 out of 5

Keywords: tuktu, eskimo, eskimo culture, inuit culture, inupiaq culture, eskimo igloo, how to make an igloo, eskimo pie, native pride, indigenous, homesteading, hunters and gatherers, native americans, alaska history, canadian history, native canadians, yupik culture, native american history, caribou hunting, reindeer hunting, rudolph, a tribe called red, pumyua, supaman, igloo, traditional hunting, native american hunting, hunting skills, native alaskan, native alaskan culture

Id: 1YK5SUOF44U

Length: 14min 16sec (856 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 25 2017